Plastic tag-fastening element

ABSTRACT

A plastic body to be attached to a flat tag, for example, for securing such tag to a wide mesh woven sack, which includes at one end an anchoring portion and at the other end a tag-fastening portion consisting of two substantially flat, parallel leg portions defining therebetween a tag-receiving slot; one of the leg portions is provided with a boss-like projection formed integrally with the same in the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;as-molded&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; condition such that the weak connection, which exists between these two parts, can be severed by applying a sharp axial blow to the outer surface of the boss-like projection to drive the same through an aligned hole of complementary shape in the other leg portion whereby a slug of the tag material is punched out and the plastic body is securely fastened to the tag after the end of the projection in the hole is enlarged in a rivet-like manner.

States atet [191 Ruegg 154] PLASTIC TAG-FASTENING ELEMENT [75] lnventor: Erwin A. Ruegg, Stony Point, N.Y. [73] Assignee: Staitel Seals Corporation, Tuckahoe, I N.Y.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 192,165

[52] US. Cl ..40/22 [51] Int. Cl. ..G09f 3/12 [58] Field of Search ..40/2, 20, 22, 23, 2.2, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 100,467 3/1870 Taylor ..40/21 R 143,621 10/1874 Goodridge... ..40/22 806,229 l2/l905 Young ..40/22 1,701,770 2/1929 Canine ..40/23 3,429,065 2/1969 Long et al ..40/21 R 3,561,074 2/1971 Mosher et al. ..40/21 R X Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-Craig, Antonelli & Hill [57] ABSTRACT A plastic body to be attached to a flat tag, for example, for securing such tag to a wide mesh woven sack, which includes at one end an anchoring portion and at the other end a tag-fastening portion consisting of two substantially flat, parallel leg portions defining therebetween a tag-receiving slot; one of the leg portions is provided with a boss-like projection formed integrally with the same in the as-molded condition such that the weak connection, which exists between these two parts, can be severed by applying a sharp axial blow to the outer surface of the boss-like projection to drive the same through an aligned hole of complementary shape in the other leg portion whereby a slug of the tag material is punched out and the plastic body is securely fastened to the tag after the end of the projection in the hole is enlarged in a rivet-like manner.

16 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR3 ma 3.724.109

INVENTOR ERWIN A.-RUEGG B Qty, flM' l ATTORNEYS PLASTIC TAG-FASTENING ELEMENT The present invention relates to a plastic body and more particularly to a plastic tag-fastening element for use, for example, to secure a tag to burlap or other wide mesh woven sacks which have to be tagged.

Various means have been proposed in the prior art to fasten tags such as paper or cardboard tags to items which have to be tagged. However, all of these prior art devices entail certain disadvantages as regards cost, ease of manufacture, ease of installation and reliability to remain in the assembled condition. These problems become the more significant the heavier the item to be tagged since the tags must remain securely fastened to the item regardless of the forces used for handling these items and the abuse to which they are subjected in the course of such handling. For example, sacks made of burlap material may weigh, when filled with coffee beans or seeds, in excess of fifty pounds and frequently require tagging under State laws to indicate compliance with, for example, the rules and regulations of the competent authorities. It is therefore necessary to tag the same securely without danger of loss of the paper or cardboard tag and without the need for costly and timeconsuming operations.

The present invention aims at avoiding the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered heretofore by simple means, and essentially consists in that the plastic tag-fastening and anchoring element includes an anchoring portion at one end and an approximately U-shaped tag securing portion provided at the other end which is formed by two relatively flat, largesurfaced leg portions defining therebetween a tag receiving slot; one of the leg portions has a raised cylindrical boss-like projection formed integrally therewith while the other leg portion is provided with an aligned aperture. After the tag is inserted into the slot-like space between the leg portions, a sharp axial blow is struck against the exposed surface of the boss-like projection, causing it to break its weak connection with the leg portion and punching a slug of paper or cardboard of the tag material throughthe hole in the other leg portion; at the bottom of the stroke the boss like member hits a suitable support which squashes so that the boss-like member holds in the hole in a rivet-like manner.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic tag-fastening element of the type described above which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in a plastic arrow-like tag-fastening element which can be readily fastened, for example, to wide mesh woven materials that have to be tagged, yet assures not only a safe and reliable anchoring in such material but more importantly, a safe and secure fastening of the tag to the plastic element.

A further object of the present invention resides in a plastic tag-fastening element which can be readily molded by injection molding and minimizes the cost in assemblying the same to the tag.

A further object of the present invention resides in a plastic tag-fastening element for burlap sacks or the like which permits easy and secure assembly of the information-containing paper, cardboard or other type of tag.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view on a plastic tag-fastening element in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tag-fastening element of FIG. 1, with parts thereof broken away and the tag omitted for the sake of clarity.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate 'like parts, reference numeral 1 generally designates a plastic fastening and anchoring element which includes an arrow-shaped anchoring portion 2'at one end of a shank portion 3. The shank portion 3 flares in the direction toward the opposite end, as viewed in FIG. 1, and terminates in large-surface, flat leg portions 4 and 4 (FIG. 2) defining therebetween a slot 5 of predetermined width for the insertion of the paper or cardboard tag 6. Of course, the tag 6 may also be made from any other known material as long as it can be punched out in the manner to be described more fully hereinafter. Additionally, the tag may also be supplied pre-punched. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the shank portion 3 is of tapered configuration, widening in the direction toward the lower end as viewed in this figure and terminating in the two enlarged leg portions 4 and 4' of approximately oval configuration. As viewed in FIG. 2, the two leg portions 4 and 4' are in the form of a'flat U-shaped clevis-like structure to accommodate within the slot 5 the tag 6 containing the desired or required information. As can also be seen from FIG. 2, the thickness of the shank 3 increases within the area 3' thereof to the dimension between the outer surfaces of the leg portions 4 and 4' to provide the necessary thickness for the two leg portions 4, 4' inclusive the slot 5.

The leg portion 4 is provided with a substantially cylindrically shaped boss-like raised portion 7 formed integrally with the molded body 1 in the as-molded" condition. To assure a readily severable connection between the raised portion 7 and leg portion 4, the leg portion 4 is provided with an inclined annular surface 11, subtending, for example, an angle of 15 with the axis 7' of the cylindrical boss 7 so that the connection between the latter and the leg portion 4 is confined to the inner end of the groove formed between the wall portion 11 and the outer surface of the cylindrical boss 7. As a result thereof, the connection between these two parts can be made relatively weak, more particularly as weak as necessary.

The leg portion 4' is provided with a circular aperture or hole 12 aligned with the boss portion 7 and of substantial complementary dimensions to those of the boss portion 7 so that, upon striking a sharp axial blow on the boss portion 7 in the direction of arrow A, the connection between the latter and the leg portion 4 is severed and the boss portion 7 is able to enter the aperture 12, thereby punching a substantially circular shaped slug out of the tag material. To improve the tagretaining action, the punch (not shown) which strikes the outer end of the boss portion 7 at the bottom of its stroke can be made to plastically deform or spread the boss portion so that it holds in the hole, which it was broken out of, in the manner of a rivet. The boss portion 7, originally an integral portion of the plastic piece, now acts like a rivet, holding the two leg'portions 4 and 4 together and actually clamping the same onto whatever material has been placed between the leg portions.

In order to further increase the tag-retaining capacity of the plastic element 1, the two leg portions 4 and 4' are provided on the mutually facing surfaces thereof with projections 13, l4, l5 and 16, increasing the frictional force on the tag 6.

FIG. 2 illustrates in solid lines the plastic anchoring structure as it comes out of the mold, for example, of an injection-molding machine. In that condition, the cylindrical raised boss 7 is an integral part of the plastic body 1. The plastic tag-fastening element 1 is then pushed over a tag in such a manner that the tag 6 enters the slot 5. The chamfered surfaces 17 and 18 at the free ends of the leg portions 4 and 4' (FIG. 2) assist in guiding the tag 6 into the slot 5.

Thereafter, the thus-assembled parts are securely fastened to one another by striking a sharp axial blow on the boss 7 in the direction of arrow A, for example, in a stamping press or the like whereupon the boss 7 breaks away from the leg portion 4 of the main plastic body 1 and punches a slug of tag material through the hole 12 on the other side. Thus, the hole 12 acts as a die for the boss 7. A suitable support is provided underneath the leg portion 4 so that the boss 7, at the bottom of the stroke, hits the support (not shown) which squashes or enlarges the same, as indicated in dash lines in FIG. 2, so that the boss 7 holds in the hole 12 in the manner of a rivet. For best operation, the blow should be as parallel as possible to the axis 7' of the boss 7. The fact that the boss 7 and leg portions 4 and 4' are made in one integral piece assures the perfect alignment necessary for the boss to act as a punch with the hole 12 in the opposite leg 4' as a die or to permit the boss to be forced into the opposite hole in case of a press-fit.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is obvious that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications. For example, the arrow-shaped anchoring portion 2 of the plastic body 1 could also be of any other suitable shape, i.e., other than the arrow shape shown. Furthermore, the configuration of the shank portion 3 as well as of the leg portions 4 and 4' may also be different from the shape shown in the drawing. For example, the shank portion 3 may taper substantially continuously or gradually until it reaches the dimension of largest width of the leg portions 4, 4 as viewed in FIG. 1, and/or until it reaches the largest thickness of the plastic body 1 within the area of the leg portions 4 and 4', as viewed in FIG. 2. For example, the thickness may taper gradually and equally on both sides of the center line C-C so that the slot 5 is actually in line with and coaxial with this axis of the relatively thinner shank portion.

Additionally, the boss portion 7 may also be made of such dimensions as to produce a press fit in the hole 12, thereby holding the material between the two legs 4 and 4' by the cylindrical pin or boss passing through the hole. Since the boss portion 7 clamps both legs 4 and 4 against the material by the use of the riveting action described above, the latter is preferable in use, particularly as it will work as well is the material between the legs has a pre-punched hole, as would be necessary especially if steel or some other strong material is used with a thickness of a few thousandths of an inch. The friction between the tag surfaces and the two legs, produced by this clamping force, would then prevent the tag from being pulled out, even if the tag were provided with a pre-punched open-ended slot.

Furthermore, any suitable plastic material, such as conventional synthetic resinous material having the desired hardness and strength may be used with the present invention as also a suitable metal, if prepunched. Additionally, the configuration of the relatively flat tongue-like leg portions 4 and 4' may differ from those shown in the drawing.

Thus, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the details shown and described herein, and I therefore do not wish to be limited thereto but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A plastic, unitary tag-fastening body, comprising an anchoring means at one end and tag-fastening means at the opposite end including two substantially parallel leg portions defining therebetween a tagreceiving slot, one of said leg portions including a bosslike projection integral with said one leg portion, the

tending beyond the inner surface of said one leg portion and the outer portion of said projection extending I beyond the outer surface of said one leg portion, the other leg portion being provided with an aperture substantially aligned with and complementary to the configuration of said boss-like projection to serve as die when said boss-like projection is disconnected from said one leg portion as a result of a sharp blow struck against the outer end thereof to engage upon severance from said one leg portion into said aperture.

2. A plastic body according to claim 1 characterized in that said leg portions are substantially flat in a plane parallel to a plane containing the tag-receiving slot.

3. A plastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that said anchoring means is disposed at one end of a shank portion, the other end of which includes said leg portions.

4. A plastic body according to claim 3, characterized in that said leg portions are of substantially wider dimensions than said shank portion and said shank portion tapers to said greater width.

5. A plastic body according to claim 4, characterized in that the thickness of said body from the outer surface of one leg portion to the outer surface of the other leg portion is greater than the thickness of said shank portion.

6. A plastic body according to claim 5, characterized in that a circumferential groove is formed between the substantially cylindrically shaped outer surface of said projection and an adjacent inclined wall surface in said one leg portion, extending the outer surface of said one leg portion inwardly obliquely toward the axis of the cylindrical projection whereby the severable connection between said projection and said one leg portion is confined to the inner end of said projection.

7. A plastic body according to claim 6, wherein the angle of said obliquely extending wall surface to the cylinder axis is of the order of about 15.

8. A plastic body according to claim 6, characterized in that said anchoring means is in the form of an arrow.

9. A plastic body according to claim 8, characterized in that said leg portions are substantially flat in a plane parallel to a plane containing the tag-receiving slot.

10. A plastic body according to claim 1, wherein the connection of said projection with said one leg portion is confined to the inner end of said projection.

11. A plastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that a circumferential groove is formed between the substantially cylindrically shaped outer surface of said projection and an adjacent inclined wall surface in said one leg portion, extending the outer surface of said one leg portion inwardly obliquely toward the axis of the cylindrical projection whereby the severable connection between said projection and said one leg portion is confined to the inner end of said projection.

12. A plastic body according to claim 11, wherein the angle of said obliquely extending wall surface to the cylinder axis is of the order of about 15.

13. A plastic body according to claim 1, wherein said boss-like projections upon application of said sharp blow punches a corresponding slug out of an unpunched tag placed between said leg portions.

14. A plastic body according to claim 13, wherein said aperture acts as a receiving hole for said boss-like projection into which the latter may be riveted.

15. A plastic body according to claim 1, wherein said aperture acts as a receiving hole for said boss-like projection into which the latter may be riveted.

16. A plastic body according to claim 15, wherein a pre-punched tag is placed between said two leg portions.

i k i 

1. A plastic, unitary tag-fastening body, comprising an anchoring means at one end and tag-fastening means at the opposite end including two substantially parallel leg portions defining therebetween a tag-receiving slot, one of said leg portions including a boss-like projection integral with said one leg portion, the inner end of said boss-like projection normally not extending beyond the inner surface of said one leg portion and the outer portion of said projection extending beyond the outer surface of said one leg portion, the other leg portion being provided with an aperture substantially aligned with and complementary to the configuration of said boss-like projection to serve as die when said boss-like projection is disconnected from said one leg portion as a result of a sharp blow struck against the outer end thereof to engage upon severance from said one leg portion into said aperture.
 2. A plastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that said leg portions are substantially flat in a plane parallel to a plane containing the tag-receiving slot.
 3. A plastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that said anchoring means is disposed at one end of a shank portion, the other end of which includes said leg portions.
 4. A plastic body according to claim 3, characterized in that said leg portions are of substantially wider dimensions than said shank portion and said shank portion tapers to said greater width.
 5. A plastic body according to claim 4, characterized in that the thickness of said body from the outer surface of one leg portion to the outer surface of the other leg portion is greater than the thickness of said shank portion.
 6. A plastic body according to claim 5, characterized in that a circumferential groove is formed between the substantially cylindrically shaped outer surface of said projection and an adjacent inclined wall surface in said one leg portion, extending the outer surface of said one leg portion inwardly obliquely toward the axis of the cylindrical projection whereby the severable connection between said projection and said one leg portion is confined to the inner end of said projection.
 7. A plastic body according to claim 6, wherein the angle of said obliquely extending wall surface to the cylinder axis is of the order of about 15*.
 8. A plastic body according to claim 6, characterized in that said anchoring means is in the form of an arrow.
 9. A plastic body according to claim 8, characterized in that said leg portions are substantially flat in a plane parallel to a plane containing the tag-receiving slot.
 10. A plastic body according to claim 1, wherein the connection of said projection with said one leg portion is confined to the inner end of said projection.
 11. A plastic body according to claim 1, characterized in that a circumferential groove is formed between the substantially cylindrically shaped outer surface of said projection and an adjacent inclined wall surface in said one leg portion, extending the outer surface of said one leG portion inwardly obliquely toward the axis of the cylindrical projection whereby the severable connection between said projection and said one leg portion is confined to the inner end of said projection.
 12. A plastic body according to claim 11, wherein the angle of said obliquely extending wall surface to the cylinder axis is of the order of about 15*.
 13. A plastic body according to claim 1, wherein said boss-like projections upon application of said sharp blow punches a corresponding slug out of an unpunched tag placed between said leg portions.
 14. A plastic body according to claim 13, wherein said aperture acts as a receiving hole for said boss-like projection into which the latter may be riveted.
 15. A plastic body according to claim 1, wherein said aperture acts as a receiving hole for said boss-like projection into which the latter may be riveted.
 16. A plastic body according to claim 15, wherein a pre-punched tag is placed between said two leg portions. 